The lawyers of an man accused of imprisoning three women for about a decade in his house in Cleveland, Ohio, say he will plead not guilty to all charges.
Ariel Castro, 52, is charged with the kidnapping and rape of the women and kidnapping a child born in captivity six years ago.
The women were abducted at different times. One of them escaped on 6 May and raised the alarm.
The accused made his first court appearance last week on 9 May without entering a plea, when bail was set at $US8 million. He is on suicide watch and is being held in isolation.
"He's not a monster and he shouldn't be demonised," said lawyer Jaye Schlachet.
